The History of Bettie Page

Bettie Page was the naughty but nice alternative model with a cheerful heart sweet smile that captured the hearts of millions. We salute the Christian convert and beloved glamour girl who believed God was ‘as naked as a jaybird’.

Dear Bettie Page,

You may hold the title ‘Queen of the Pin Up” but you should be given more credit. Without you, popular culture today would not be the same – you helped pioneer the self-expressed sexuality of women.

You had the most dazzling, innocent smile and became the icon for alternative modeling. You had that ‘naughty but nice’ quality that drives men wild and causes women to want to be you. It was your sweet, childlike nature that was such a contrast to the content of your dark photos and refreshingly, your demeanor never changed.

I know that you retired from the public eye and had trouble with your relationships, since you were married and divorced three times. To us, that makes you more human than ever. You continue to inspire so many people worldwide and are sorely missed by everyone.

Love Mookychick xxx

Bettie Page quotes:

“I don’t know what they mean by an icon. I never thought of myself as being that. It seems strange to me. I was just modeling, thinking of as many different poses as possible. I made more money modeling than being a secretary. I had a lot of free time. You could go back to work after an absence of a few months. I couldn’t do that as a secretary.”

“Sex is a part of love. You shouldn’t go around doing it unless you are in love.”

“Being in the nude isn’t a disgrace unless you’re being promiscuous about it. After all, when God created Adam and Eve, they were stark naked. And in the Garden of Eden, God was probably naked as a jaybird too!”

“I love to swim in the nude and roam around the house in the nude. You’re just as free as a bird!”

“I never kept up with the fashions. I believed in wearing what I thought looked good on me.”

“It makes me feel wonderful that people still care for me… that I have so many fans among young people, who write to me and tell me I have been an inspiration.”

Bettie Page Best known for:

Being a legendary pin-up model of the 1950’s with killer curves, the sweetest smile and jet black, short bangs.

Bettie Page Least known for:

Designing and sewing all of the costumes and lingerie she was photographed in.

Mooky factor:

Bettie Page is hot AND smart. She was a member and program director of the Drama Club, secretary treasurer of the School Council and co-editor of the school newspaper and yearbook. She was voted “Most Likely To Succeed in high school and graduated 2nd in her class, earning her a scholarship to college.

A short history of Bettie Page:

Bettie was born on April 22nd, 1923 in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1947, following the divorce of her high school sweetheart, Bettie moved to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. She worked as a secretary in the meantime, awaiting her ‘big break.’

In 1950, she met photographer Jerry Tibbs, who took photographs of her along the shore of Coney Island and put together her first portfolio. She begun modeling for camera clubs and it was her inhibition with her poses that made her an instant success and lead her photos to be featured in countless magazines and catalogues.

From 1952- 1958 she posed for photographer Irving Klaw for pin up, sadomasochistic and restriction themed photographs, making her the first famous restriction model. Her images, which today seem tame and show no acts of sexual conduct, caused a huge stir throughout the industry. In 1955 she became one of the first centerfolds for Playboy magazine, with the title of Miss January.

In 1957 she was a part of a large lawsuit involving Irving Klaw which led to most of her original prints being destroyed.

Soon after the trials, she disappeared from the world of modeling and moved to Florida where she converted to Christianity and became a recluse. In her later years, she refused to be photographed and rarely granted interviews. She died in December 2008 at the age of 85.

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About Mookychick

The Mookychick website and community was born in 2005 to be an alternative feminist haven of inclusivity and joy. Mookychick is more than the sum of its parts. All our members actively help each other - and you won't find a wittier, thinkier or kinder bunch anywhere.